Budget battle for some members of the City County Council

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The budget saga continues. The City County Council is four votes shy of overriding the Mayor's vetoes.

Now Democratic Councilors say people could lose their jobs because of the cuts. Lawsuits and layoffs are what one Democratic Councilor says could happen.

Democratic Councilors point to the nearly $700,000 that was vetoed by the Mayor, that money, is the council's operating budget. Also county agencies had nearly $32 million cut and Councilor Joe Simpson fears that will translate into layoffs.

“I think the citizens are looking toward me to keep it stable, keep it consistent for the future,” says Mayor Greg Ballard.

The Mayor says, he wants to balance the budget. He line item vetoed the City County Council's budget slashing nearly $32 million from county agencies. The council had one shot to override the veto.

“It was what I expected that the republicans were going to stay fast with their vote,” says Councilor Joe Simpson District 9.

In a 16 to 10 vote Thursday night, straight down political lines, the council failed to override the veto. Democratic Councilor Joe Simpson says, that's left the city facing potential layoffs.

“These are families. These are single moms single dads, people whose lives depend on this job and whether or not he's playing a game or not you are affecting people that really need this money,” says Democratic Councilor Joe Simpson.

Simpson says, the money taken from the County General Fund is around a 14 percent cut for agencies like the Prosecutor's office.

He says, by state law they have to perform their responsibilities, so the cutbacks will fall on employee's shoulders.

“These are people who are on the bottom end, not the high end, the bottom end and the mayor's staff is going to be sitting up in the 25th floor having their Christmas parties and they don't care,” says Simpson.

Mayor Ballard believes that cut is needed, to close the $65 million budget gap. He says, the agencies will learn to be more efficient with their money.

“The sky isn't falling yet, its only 14 or 15 percent and things might be able to work out in the future too so we'll see as  we go forward,” says Mayor Ballard.

Another huge sticking point is the Mayor cutting the City County Council's operating budget of nearly $700,000. Democratic councilors say, he's taken away their power to do business such as telephone services and legal counsel. Worst case scenario, Simpson says, the council could sue the city, saying it's illegal for the Mayor to take away a budget from another branch of government.

Republican Councilor Aaron Freeman says, council is assured they will have their budget, but the problem is in the budget is 100-thousand dollars set aside to draw new redistricting maps. The Republicans just did this, and they say it's a waste of money.

Freeman says, it's not a political game, but Simpson says, that's all this has been.